Godsticks: Inescapable (Kscope) [Matt Bladen]
"I think this just might be my masterpiece" (Lt. Aldo Raine, Inglorious Basterds). Now I'm not saying that Godsticks' new album has hidden messages about killing Nazi's but what I am saying as this could be the best record they have released, though they only have 3 so far. A vibrant mix of prog, heavy rock and alt metal Inescapable is the culmination of Godsticks' career so far, as they've shifted from being a technical metal band to the more overtly progressive one as they now add more melodic, almost pop influences. The record is a concept album surrounding frontman Darran Charles struggle with his inner demons and his at times crippling perfectionism, it's this very personal theme and the bands introspective nature, that drives Inescapable which not only sees Charles playing some of his best guitar to date (aided by Gavin Bushell) but also giving a vocal performance where at times he morphs into Chris Cornell, especially on the more ambient dramatic Victim.
"I think this just might be my masterpiece" (Lt. Aldo Raine, Inglorious Basterds). Now I'm not saying that Godsticks' new album has hidden messages about killing Nazi's but what I am saying as this could be the best record they have released, though they only have 3 so far. A vibrant mix of prog, heavy rock and alt metal Inescapable is the culmination of Godsticks' career so far, as they've shifted from being a technical metal band to the more overtly progressive one as they now add more melodic, almost pop influences. The record is a concept album surrounding frontman Darran Charles struggle with his inner demons and his at times crippling perfectionism, it's this very personal theme and the bands introspective nature, that drives Inescapable which not only sees Charles playing some of his best guitar to date (aided by Gavin Bushell) but also giving a vocal performance where at times he morphs into Chris Cornell, especially on the more ambient dramatic Victim.
Victim is a song that channels the woozy sounds of Soundgarden and the proggy sounds of Porcupine Tree, Charles adding synths and keys. This comparison also stands out on the emotional Surrender There's almost a spot the influence game you can play with this record; Relief bringing some Tool-like grunt and choppy rhythms driven by Tom Price's drumming and Dan Nelson's bass, as Resist has an industrial thump while Breathe is dense and uncomfortable. Inescapable is a record that envelopes you in it's dexterity and musicality, it keeps you guessing but also has a familiar feel too, this is Godsticks becoming the band they have been working towards being since their debut album. Roll on their show in Fuel on April 2nd. 8/10
God Dethroned: Illuminati (Metal Blade Records) [Matt Bladen]
Netherlands based heavies God Dethroned have built up a sizeable following since 1991 over 10 full length albums bringing death metal to the masses without missing a beat at all. Their previous record was released in 2017 so in 2020 it was once again time to crank up the amps and begin the face ripping. Led by Henri Sattler there has been a change in the ranks as guitarist Mike Ferguson was replaced by Dave Meester (ex-Apophys) while Michiel van der Plicht (drums) and Jeroen Pomper (bass) keep their positions in the backroom. These shifts have made God Dethroned a more cohesive, but also experimental record than we've heard before. Sattler writing with Michiel for most of the album, looking back to their earlier works, as the anti-Christian lyrics return.
These rallying cries against secret societies, Julio-Christian dogma and evangelicalism are delivered by the most varied vocal performance yet Sattler performing clean choirs for the first time along with his screams and grunts, the scope is bigger than on their previous record as keyboards add extra flavour to the brutalising classic death metal sound. The title track is cinematic opening the record with flurry of blastbeats and a chorus you can shout along to (unusual in death metal), Broken Halo grinds, Satan's Spawn rampages while Gabriel is more melodic with a brilliant solo. As God Dethroned come from the old-school there is a mix of thrash/death bringing groove but they also have that modern ultra-cleanliness on Book Of Lies and black metal explosiveness on Blood Moon Eclipse. With the lyrical content pushed to its max throughout against the devastating metal assault, this will be the most blasphemous record this year, unless Rotting Christ drop a record. Pick it up, play it loud and maybe burn down a church!* 8/10
*(We don't suggest you do this)
Brotthogg: Echoes Of The Past - Special Edition (Redefining Darkness Records) [Rich Oliver]
Redefining Darkness Records have added Norwegian blackened thrashers Brotthogg to their roster and have reissued their 2019 debut album Echoes Of The Past (which was independently released by the band) along with their 2017 EP The Last Traveler as a bonus. This means you get all the Brotthogg material released to date in one nice neat little package. Despite never having heard of them before Brotthogg very much impressed me being a fusion of black metal bands such as Emperor, Dissection and Keep Of Kalessin with technical thrash in the style of bands such as Revocation and Vektor plus some influences from melodic death metal. The result is a hyper charged melodic blackened thrashing beast with none stop savage yet melodic riffery, technical and flashy lead guitar work and a cacophony of blastbeats.
God Dethroned: Illuminati (Metal Blade Records) [Matt Bladen]
Netherlands based heavies God Dethroned have built up a sizeable following since 1991 over 10 full length albums bringing death metal to the masses without missing a beat at all. Their previous record was released in 2017 so in 2020 it was once again time to crank up the amps and begin the face ripping. Led by Henri Sattler there has been a change in the ranks as guitarist Mike Ferguson was replaced by Dave Meester (ex-Apophys) while Michiel van der Plicht (drums) and Jeroen Pomper (bass) keep their positions in the backroom. These shifts have made God Dethroned a more cohesive, but also experimental record than we've heard before. Sattler writing with Michiel for most of the album, looking back to their earlier works, as the anti-Christian lyrics return.
These rallying cries against secret societies, Julio-Christian dogma and evangelicalism are delivered by the most varied vocal performance yet Sattler performing clean choirs for the first time along with his screams and grunts, the scope is bigger than on their previous record as keyboards add extra flavour to the brutalising classic death metal sound. The title track is cinematic opening the record with flurry of blastbeats and a chorus you can shout along to (unusual in death metal), Broken Halo grinds, Satan's Spawn rampages while Gabriel is more melodic with a brilliant solo. As God Dethroned come from the old-school there is a mix of thrash/death bringing groove but they also have that modern ultra-cleanliness on Book Of Lies and black metal explosiveness on Blood Moon Eclipse. With the lyrical content pushed to its max throughout against the devastating metal assault, this will be the most blasphemous record this year, unless Rotting Christ drop a record. Pick it up, play it loud and maybe burn down a church!* 8/10
*(We don't suggest you do this)
Brotthogg: Echoes Of The Past - Special Edition (Redefining Darkness Records) [Rich Oliver]
Redefining Darkness Records have added Norwegian blackened thrashers Brotthogg to their roster and have reissued their 2019 debut album Echoes Of The Past (which was independently released by the band) along with their 2017 EP The Last Traveler as a bonus. This means you get all the Brotthogg material released to date in one nice neat little package. Despite never having heard of them before Brotthogg very much impressed me being a fusion of black metal bands such as Emperor, Dissection and Keep Of Kalessin with technical thrash in the style of bands such as Revocation and Vektor plus some influences from melodic death metal. The result is a hyper charged melodic blackened thrashing beast with none stop savage yet melodic riffery, technical and flashy lead guitar work and a cacophony of blastbeats.
All the music is performed by talented multi-instrumentalist Kristian Larsen Moen whilst the vocals are handled by Craig Furunes and Jonas Moen who deliver a variation of blackened screams and deathly gutturals. The material rarely strays from sonic overload with opener The Summoning and Broken Chains reaching positively flesh ripping levels of velocity. The band can slow things down here and there with Northland being more of a mid paced melodic black metal tune and The Aftermath being a more malevolent and atmospheric number. The album closes with a ripping cover of Total Death by Isengard before we get onto the bonus tracks from The Last Traveler EP which also continue in face ripping frantic style. This an excellent release from Brotthogg and whilst it can get slightly repetitive the songs are all relatively short and don’t drag things out and the album itself is fairly short. If you like black metal with plenty of melody but no less savagery than black metal usually dishes out then I heartily recommend this release. 8/10
Aeonian Sorrow: A Life Without EP (Self Released) [Rich Oliver]
A Life Without is the new EP from international death doom band Aeonian Sorrow following on from their 2018 debut album Into The Eternity A Moment We Are. If you are a lover of bleak, melancholic and tragic music then this is a must hear. Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Red Moon Architect, Clouds, Shape Of Despair and Before The Dawn amongst others this EP is a masterclass in misery. Straddling the fine line between death doom metal and funeral doom metal this is four songs of crushing monolithic despair. Opening song The Endless Fall Of Grief slowly and steadily eases us in gradually building up before dropping in waves of doomy delight with the thoroughly guttural vocals of Ville Rutanen working as a counterpoint to the soul stirring croon of clean singer Gogo Melone.
Aeonian Sorrow: A Life Without EP (Self Released) [Rich Oliver]
A Life Without is the new EP from international death doom band Aeonian Sorrow following on from their 2018 debut album Into The Eternity A Moment We Are. If you are a lover of bleak, melancholic and tragic music then this is a must hear. Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Red Moon Architect, Clouds, Shape Of Despair and Before The Dawn amongst others this EP is a masterclass in misery. Straddling the fine line between death doom metal and funeral doom metal this is four songs of crushing monolithic despair. Opening song The Endless Fall Of Grief slowly and steadily eases us in gradually building up before dropping in waves of doomy delight with the thoroughly guttural vocals of Ville Rutanen working as a counterpoint to the soul stirring croon of clean singer Gogo Melone.
The layers of synth and piano, coupled with the crushing doomy riffs, the pounding rhythm section and the dual vocals really gives this music a cathartic and soul stirring feel to it. The tracks that follow keep up this momentum with Gogo’s blissful vocals on One Love and Hopeless Suicide sending my arm hairs standing into the stratosphere whilst My Solitude is a more rhythmic but no less devastating song. From such darkness comes such beauty and that is certainly the case with A Life Without. Although labelled as an EP it is the length of a decent album with the four songs spanning just under 36 minutes. I’m hoping this is a stop gap before album number two. I was a big fan of the debut album and this has certainly whetted my appetite for more music from Aeonian Sorrow. If you crave blastbeats then this is probably not for you but if you want to dive headfirst into anguish and atmosphere then get this spinning ASAP. 8/10